Bra comfort device

ABSTRACT

A comfort device comprising an adhesive layer and a padding layer is provided. The padding layer includes one or more sub-padding layers and embossing to hold the sub-padding layers together. The padding layer comprises a plurality of scallops disposed around the edge. A method of improving the comfort of an undergarment is also provided.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to the field of undergarments. Specifically, the invention relates to a device for improving the comfort of undergarments.

2. Description of the Related Art

Undergarments, including brassieres and underwear, generally come in several fixed sizes. However, human bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and so inevitably, people have difficulty finding undergarments that provide a comfortable fit. Generally, people will settle on a particular size of undergarment that matches their body proportions as close as possible, and tolerate any areas of misfit. These areas of misfit may lead to discomfort for the wearer such as itching, irritation, and rashes.

Bras can be an especially troubling type of undergarment for which to find an adequate fit. It is estimated that as many as eighty-five percent of women wear the incorrect bra size, further evidenced by the many retailers who offer special ‘bra fitting’ sessions that purport to help women find the appropriate bra size.

Generally, bras are sized by two measurements: band size, which should approximate the circumference of the wearer's chest; and cup size, which includes several alphabetic gradations corresponding to the fullness of a woman's breast. Although not providing specific numerical size information, the cup size is generally chosen, often by trial-and-error, so as to approximate the size of the wearer's breasts. Bras also come in several styles such as support, athletic, strapless, underwire, padded, and minimizing. Considering the wide range of wearer's proportions, the wide range of bra types, and the relatively few bra sizes, it is not surprising that finding a perfect fit can be difficult, if not impossible for most women.

Complicating the fit issue is the fact that undergarments need to be washed regularly. Repeated washing can lead to resizing caused by wear, stretch, and/or shrinkage in the materials that the undergarments are made from. As an example, a bra may have one type of material forming the strap portion and another material or materials forming the cup portion. These different materials may respond differently to repeated washings and may cause the overall fit of the bra to change over time.

Another issue that is often experienced with underwire bras is that, after repeated washings or extended wear, the underwire may break through the material enclosing it and protrude into the soft tissue of the wearer's breast causing pain and discomfort. Although underwires generally include some type of cap over the end of the underwire, having the underwire exposed outside of the material of the bra can still cause discomfort for the wearer when the underwire presses against the wearer's skin. At the present time, there are few suitable methods available to repair a bra with a protruding underwire, and so the bras are generally discarded. Given the generally expensive nature of brassieres relative to other undergarments, wearer's are often reluctant to discard even a defective bra. Consequently, women will often continue to wear bras with protruding underwires and simply tolerate the discomfort.

There are several other potential areas of discomfort associated with undergarments. For example, the hook section of a bra can cause discomfort for some people and tags on any type of undergarment can be irritating. As an additional example, the straps of a bra can dig into a woman's shoulder or the elastic material from which the straps are made can break down and become irritating over time. As a further example, women with larger bra sizes can encounter pain, discomfort, or itching from the bottom edge of the bra. Consequently, a need remains for an inexpensive and easy way to temporarily modify or repair undergarments to improve the comfort of the wearer and to extend the useful life of the undergarment.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a comfort device and a method of improving the comfort of an undergarment. The comfort device includes an adhesive layer and a padding layer. The padding layer comprises one or more sub-padding layers and embossing to hold the sub-padding layers together. The padding layer also includes a plurality of scallops disposed around the edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of undergarments;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a comfort device in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a comfort device according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 4 a through 4 d illustrate various shapes of a comfort device according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b illustrate a comfort device being used to improve the comfort of a bra according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b illustrate a comfort device being used to improve the comfort of underwear according to some embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of improving the comfort of an undergarment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many different forms and embodiments are possible without deviating from the spirit and teachings of this disclosure and so the disclosure should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of undergarments.

Referring to FIG. 1, a set of undergarments may include a bra 10 and underwear 20. The bra 10 may include a band strap 12, which attaches around a wearer's chest, shoulder straps 14, which loop over the wearer's shoulders or extend around the upper torso or lower back, and cups 16, which hold and support the breasts of the wearer. The bra 10 may also include hooks 18 or other fastening mechanisms such as snaps, Velcro®, ties, and the like, which are used to secure the band strap 12 around the wearer's chest. Although shown in FIG. 1 as being at the back of the band strap 12, the hooks 18 may also be in other positions on the bra 10, including in the front section between the strap and the cup or between the cups 16. The shoulder straps 14 may include adjusters 15, which are used to adjust the length of the shoulder straps 14, or to provide support to lift the cup area.

The bra 10 may also include underwires 11. The underwires 11 are typically sewn into the material of the bra 10 below the cups 16. The underwires 11 are generally made from either metal or a stiff plastic so as to provide rigid support for the bra 10. Often the underwires 11 include some type of cap over the ends of the underwires 11 to minimize the occurrence of the underwires penetrating the material of the bra 10. However, even when this precaution is taken, the underwires 11 can still penetrate the material of the bra 10 and cause discomfort to the wearer. The most common area of the bra 10 for the underwires 11 to break through is under the arm of the wearer, as shown by regions A in FIG. 1.

The underwear 20 typically includes a waistband 22 and a tag 24. The waistband 22 generally includes an elastic material to hold the underwear 20 in place on the wearer. The tag 24 typically includes information concerning the construction of the underwear 20 and use and care instructions. The tag 24 may be made from a different material than the remainder of the underwear 20 and may be a source of irritation or discomfort to the wearer.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the bra 10 and underwear 20 may be made from various materials and in various colors. As an example, the bra 10 may be made mostly from cotton, polyester, silk, satin, lycra, lace, bamboo fibers, and the like, but may also include some type of cushion or padding material in the cups 16. The underwear 20 may be made almost entirely from a single material such as cotton, polyester, silk, satin, lycra, lace, bamboo fibers, and the like. The bra 10 and underwear 20 may be, for example, white, pink, beige, black, or combinations of any colors or patterns. Additionally, the underwear may include any type of embellishment or design.

Any portion of the bra 10 and/or the underwear 20 can cause discomfort to the wearer. The extent of this discomfort depends on many factors including, for example, the proportions of the wearer, the construction of the undergarment, the material from which the undergarment is made, the process of manufacture of the undergarment, and/or the wear state of the undergarment. Currently, a wearer has few options for relieving this discomfort other than hiring a seamstress to correct the problem causing the discomfort or discarding the undergarment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a comfort device in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a comfort device 30 includes an adhesive layer 32 and a padding layer 34. The comfort device may also include a backing layer 36, which covers the adhesive layer 32 when the comfort device 30 is not in use. The padding layer 34 may include one or more sub-padding layers 35. The number and thickness of the sub-padding layers 35 may be chosen so as to maximize the comfort of the comfort device 30 while minimizing the overall thickness of the comfort device 30. According to some embodiments, the overall thickness of the comfort device 30 may be between about 1/64″ and about ¼″. The comfort device 30 may also include embossing 38, which holds together the sub-padding layers 35. The embossing 38 may also hold the adhesive layer 32 onto the padding layer 34. The materials comprising the comfort device 30 may be chosen such that the comfort device 30 is disposable and biodegradable. According to some embodiments, the comfort device 30 may also include an absorbent layer 39. Alternatively, the sub-padding layers 35 may be made from a material that includes absorbent properties.

The adhesive layer 32 may comprise any type of adhesive that is suitable for adhering the comfort device 30 to fabrics that are used to make undergarments and/or to adhere to the adhesive layer 32 to itself. The adhesive should have sufficient adhesive strength such that the comfort device 30 is maintained in position during use. But, the adhesive strength should also be low enough that the comfort device 30 can be removed from the undergarment after use, for example, prior to washing the undergarment, without damage to the undergarment. According to some embodiments, the adhesive layer 32 may comprise fabric hook-and-loop fasteners, such as Velcro®.

The padding layer 34 may be made from a material that is soft to the touch and/or a material that is absorbent. As an example, the padding layer 34 may include cotton. The padding layer 34 may include one or more additives. The additives may include a skin moisturizer, such as aloe vera, an antiperspirant, an antibiotic, a scent-release chemical, and/or a topical analgesic. These additives may, among other things, improve the condition of the wearer's skin, minimize perspiration, treat skin rashes/irritation, and/or emit a pleasant fragrance. Also, the padding layer 34 may be hypo-allergenic to minimize the occurrence of allergic reactions by the user.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a comfort device according to some embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a comfort device 30 includes the padding layer 34 and the embossing 38. The comfort device 30 may have a generally circular shape with a plurality of scallops 42 around the circumference. The scallops 42 may improve the adhesion between the comfort device 30 and an undergarment relative to a shape without scallops by increasing the surface area of adhesion. The embossing 38 may extend across the comfort device 30 in regular patterns, extend along the edge of the comfort device 30, or form an irregular pattern on the surface of the comfort device 30. The comfort device 30 may have one of several different colors or it may be multi-colored. The color of the comfort device 30 may be chosen such that it matches the color of typical undergarments. For example, the color of the comfort device 30 may be one or more of white, beige, pink, black, and blue. The comfort device 30 may have a length/diameter of about 2″ to about 5″.

FIGS. 4 a through 4 d illustrate various shapes of a comfort device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 4 a through 4 d, a comfort device 30 may have a substantially circular shape (as shown in FIG. 4 a), a substantially oval shape (as shown in FIG. 4 b), a rectangular shape (as shown in FIG. 4 c), or an ‘H’ shape (as shown in FIG. 4 d). A comfort device 30 may have any other shape that is suitable for adhering to undergarments and improving the comfort of the undergarments for the wearer. Also, a comfort device 30 having any of these shapes may also include scallops 42 along the edge of the shape.

The adhesive layer 32 may extend across a substantially entire surface of the comfort device 30 or the adhesive layer 32 may cover only a portion of the surface of the comfort device 30. As an example, when the comfort device 30 has a rectangular shape, the adhesive layer 32 may only cover end portions of the comfort device 30. As a further example, when the comfort device 30 has an ‘H’ shape, the adhesive layer 32 may be disposed only on the protruding portions of the ‘H’. In this case, when the comfort device 30 is used, the protruding portions may adhere to each other, but not the undergarment, such that the comfort device 30 may be re-positioned on the undergarment by, for example, sliding along a strap.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b illustrate a comfort device being used to improve the comfort of a bra according to some embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, a bra 10 may have an underwire 11 protruding inward from the bra, as shown at B. The protruding underwire 11 may cause discomfort for the wearer as the underwire 11 presses against the wearer's skin. To alleviate this discomfort, comfort device 30 is positioned over the protruding underwire 11 and around the bottom of the bra 10, as shown in FIG. 5 b. The adhesive layer 32 adheres the comfort device 30 to the bra 10. In this way, comfort device 30 prevents contact of the underwire 11 with the skin of the wearer and thereby improves the comfort of the bra. Comfort device 30 may be applied before the bra 10 is placed on the wearer or it may be applied while the wearer is already wearing the bra 10. When provided, the backing layer 36 may be removed from the comfort device 30 before the comfort device is adhered to the bra 10. Although the comfort device 30 is shown as improving the comfort of the wearer by covering a protruding underwire 11, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the comfort device 30 could be applied to any other portion of the bra 10 to alleviate discomfort caused by, for example, the hooks 18, adjusters 15, side seams, or any other source of discomfort.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b illustrate a comfort device being used to improve the comfort of underwear according to some embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, a wearer may experience discomfort from underwear 20 due to, for example, the tag 24. To alleviate this discomfort, comfort device 30 is positioned over the tag 24. Although shown as just covering the tag 24, the comfort device 30 can also be wrapped around the waistband 22 of the underwear 20. The adhesive layer 32 adheres the comfort device 30 to the underwear 20. In this way, comfort device 30 prevents contact of the tag 24 with the skin of the wearer and thereby improves the comfort of the underwear 20. Comfort device 30 may be applied before underwear 20 is placed on the wearer or it may be applied while the wearer is already wearing the underwear 20. When provided, the backing layer 36 may be removed from the comfort device 30 before the comfort device is adhered to the underwear 20. Although the comfort device 30 is shown as improving the comfort of the wearer by covering the tag 24, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the comfort device 30 could be applied to any other portion of the underwear 20 to alleviate any other source of discomfort.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of improving the comfort of an undergarment.

Referring to FIG. 7, at step 710, an undergarment is provided. The undergarment may be, for example, a bra or underwear. The undergarment may cause discomfort to a wearer due to, for example, a protruded underwire or a tag. At step 720, a comfort device is provided. The comfort device may include any of the features described above with respect to FIGS. 2-6 b. At step 730, the backing layer is removed from the comfort device. The backing layer may be discarded. At step 740, the comfort device is adhered to the undergarment using the adhesive layer of the comfort device. When the undergarment is a bra with a protruded underwire, the comfort device is adhered to the bra such that the protruded underwire is covered by the comfort device and the padding layer is directed toward the skin of a wearer. The comfort device may be positioned such that the comfort device wraps around an edge of the undergarment. Also, the comfort device may be positioned such that it wraps around a strap of the undergarment. In this case, the comfort device may adhere to itself and/or the undergarment. According to some embodiments, at step 710, providing the undergarment may comprise placing the undergarment on a wearer. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the comfort device may be removed and repositioned as necessary to provide the desired comfort for the wearer. According to some embodiments, the comfort device can be removed and reused on the same undergarment or a different undergarment.

According to embodiments of the invention, undergarments can be easily and inexpensively modified to improve the comfort of the wearer. Also, undergarments that have become worn over time can be modified using a comfort device as an alternative to discarding the undergarments.

Although the invention has been described with reference to women's undergarments, and specifically bras and underwear, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the invention are also applicable to men's undergarments and other types of women's undergarments such as camisoles, slips, body shapers, and the like. For example, men's underwear also typically include a tag which may be a source of discomfort for the wearer. Consequently, a comfort device according to embodiments of the invention could be used to alleviate this discomfort.

The foregoing is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few example embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1. A comfort device, comprising: an adhesive layer configured to adhere the comfort device to an undergarment; and a padding layer, the padding layer including: one or more sub-padding layers; and embossing configured to hold the sub-padding layers together, wherein the padding layer comprises a plurality of scallops disposed around an edge thereof.
 2. The comfort device of claim 1, further comprising an absorbent layer between the adhesive layer and the padding layer.
 3. The comfort device of claim 1, further comprising a backing layer disposed on the adhesive layer.
 4. The comfort device of claim 1, wherein the padding layer comprises at least one additive.
 5. The comfort device of claim 4, wherein the at least one additive is one or more from a group comprising a skin moisturizer, an antiperspirant, an antibiotic, and a topical analgesic.
 6. The comfort device of claim 1, wherein the padding layer has a color configured to match a color of the undergarment.
 7. The comfort device of claim 6, wherein the color of the padding layer is one from a group comprising white, black, beige, pink, and blue.
 8. The comfort device of claim 1, wherein the comfort device has a substantially circular shape.
 9. The comfort device of claim 1, wherein the comfort device has a shape comprising a rectangle, an oval, or an H shape.
 10. The comfort device of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer extends across a substantially entire surface of the padding layer.
 11. The comfort device of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer covers a partial surface of the padding layer.
 12. The comfort device of claim 1, wherein the comfort device comprises materials that are biodegradable and hypo-allergenic.
 13. A bra comfort device, comprising: an adhesive layer configured to adhere the comfort device to a bra; a padding layer, the padding layer including: two or more sub-padding layers; and embossing extending across a substantially entire diameter of the padding layer and configured to hold the sub-padding layers together; and an absorbent layer between the adhesive layer and the padding layer; and a backing layer disposed on the adhesive layer, wherein the padding layer has a substantially circular shape and comprises a plurality of rounded scallops disposed around a substantially entire edge thereof, and wherein the adhesive layer extends across a substantially entire surface of the padding layer.
 14. The bra comfort device of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the bra comfort device is about 2 inches to about 5 inches.
 15. The bra comfort device of claim 13, wherein a thickness of the padding layer is about 1/64 inches to about ¼ inches.
 16. The bra comfort device of claim 13, wherein the padding layer comprises at least one additive.
 17. The bra comfort device of claim 16, wherein the at least one additive is one or more from a group comprising a skin moisturizer, an antiperspirant, an antibiotic, a scent-release chemical, and a topical analgesic.
 18. A method of improving the comfort of a bra, comprising: providing a bra having an underwire at least partially protruded through a material of the bra; providing a comfort device, the comfort device comprising: an adhesive layer; a backing layer disposed on a first surface of the adhesive layer; and a padding layer disposed on a second surface of the adhesive layer; removing the backing layer from the comfort device; adhering the comfort device onto the bra using the adhesive layer such that the comfort device covers the protruded underwire and is at least partially disposed between the bra and a wearer of the bra.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein adhering the comfort device onto the bra comprises adhering the comfort device around an edge of the bra such that a portion of the padding layer is adjacent to the wearer.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising placing the bra on the wearer before adhering the comfort device onto the bra. 